Lea recs 'Uncommon Passion,' 'Out of Line'

As a favor to a friend, SWAT officer Ben Harris agrees to be one of the unattached men available to the highest bidder in a charity bachelor auction. Ben radiates masculinity and a raw sex appeal that draws women like a magnetic force, and his rakish charm isn’t lost on Rachel Hill, who has been hoping to find the right man for a one-time no-strings-attached rendezvous to divest her of her virginity. So, she throws her hat in the ring, ups the ante and wins Ben for an, um … date.

Why would she do this? Rachel was born and raised in a cloistered religious fundamentalist commune, where women were repressed with regard to educational opportunities, emotions and sexuality. As an intelligent, spirited woman, she felt suffocated under the restrictive rules imposed by the religious doctrine enforced by the church elders. Rachel left the commune and initially stayed at a homeless shelter then later found a job on a farm. Rachel is an impressive heroine, she is strong-minded and determined. She craves knowledge and independence and is thirsty for the experiences she has been denied all her life. So, she uses her savings to purchase Ben for an evening because she sees him as an experienced man who will initiate her sexually and never look back.

Ben is a world-weary, psychologically damaged adrenaline junkie who takes unnecessary risks on the job, and it’s evident from the outset he’s in a self-destructive spiral. His relationships with women have consisted of meaningless sexual escapades with no commitment expectations. By the same token Ben does have a sense of honor, sex is always consensual, and he takes the safety of women very seriously. So, when he finds evidence that Rachel has duped him into taking her virginity, he confronts her and proposes that she allow him to teach her about the pleasures of the flesh and how to be safe. Rachel sees Ben for what he is, has no expectations of commitment and wants to take advantage of what he is offering. Ergo, they embark on a mutually satisfying series of booty calls that result in a sizzling hot, passionate journey of sexual exploration and self-discovery. Ben’s surprised to learn that the teacher can sometimes become the student.

Uncommon Passion is a complex, intense and raw, erotic romance that exposes the wounded spirit of a man who has suppressed his emotions due to a history of family dysfunction and loss. It’s a brilliant juxtaposition because Rachel was forced to suppress her emotions due to her upbringing and she embraces every feeling, good or bad, that each new experience provokes. Their uncommon passion and relationship do result in hurt and regret, but Calhoun raises the bar in providing a sensitive and special HEA that will cause you to sigh. Anne Calhoun delivers another not-to-be-missed, unique and emotional erotic romance that will curl your toes and warm your heart.

Ben was introduced in Anne Calhoun’s Uncommon Pleasure anthology (I’ve been eagerly waiting for his story), but Uncommon Passion can be read as a stand-alone.

“Out of Line” by Jen McLaughlin. (Photo: Jen McLaughlin)

Out of Line by Jen McLaughlin

As the daughter of a U.S. senator, Carrie Wallington has been afforded anything, and everything money can buy. However, as is said, money can’t buy happiness and Carrie hasn’t been allowed to spread her wings due to being under constant surveillance by her overprotective father’s security posse. Now a freshman at a college that is as far away from her parents as she could possibly manage, Carrie feels free for the first time in her life as Daddy’s watchdogs are nowhere in sight. It’s understandable that Carrie has a real hate-on for security men and is suspicious of any guy who fits the profile. Adjusting to college life hasn’t been easy. Carrie’s not a party girl, and her “lameness” doesn’t jive with her outgoing roommate’s penchant for living on the wild side. Then Carrie meets the very hot, tattooed Marine reservist and avid surfer Finn Coram, and he introduces her to a whole realm of new experiences.

You gotta love conflict, and McLaughlin ramps it up from the get-go by characterizing Finn as an employee at his father’s security company, the same one commissioned by Sen. Wallington. Finn is sent to work undercover and “babysit” Carrie while she is attending college. He is attracted to Carrie, but she is strictly off-limits. Further, Finn has a preconceived notion that Carrie is the stereotypical vacant, spoiled, rich girl, who is at college to party and spend her daddy’s money. Finn soon learns that Carrie Wallington is not what he expected; she is spirited, intelligent and generous, has a strong social conscience, is fun to be with, and as they spend more time together, forbidden love blooms. The love scenes in this story are more sexually explicit than many of the New Adult novels I’ve read, but, that said, the eroticism is tasteful and sensitive, and the sensuality suits the storyline.

Needless to say, their relationship turns very sour when Carrie discovers that Finn has deceived her, and it’s a very tough road to reconciliation. I empathized with Finn and Carrie as they struggled through the hurt and guilt associated with his deception. Finn’s protective nature and tenderness toward Carrie shone through and made me long for her to forgive him. Jen McLaughin’s debut in the New Adult genre is a gem that I thoroughly enjoyed and that kept me engaged from the opening pages.

My one nitpick is, while I don’t mind sequels, I am getting weary of cliffhangers, and there is an unnecessary one dropped at the end of Out of Line that leads into Finn and Carrie’s continuing story, to be published in 2014.

Jen McLaughlin also writes contemporary romance as Diane Alberts.

Lea Franczak cannot remember a time when she didn’t have a book in her hand. She’s read and enjoyed multiple genres but is especially partial to contemporary and erotic romance, dark gritty romantic suspense, paranormal romance and has recently become a New Adult junkie. Lea also writes reviews at Book Lovers Inc. and is active on Goodreads. Lea is HEA’s Tweeter Extraordinaire. Follow HEA on Twitter (@HEAusatoday).